Podcast
Questions and Answers
In Catullus's poem 7, what meter is used?
In Catullus's poem 7, what meter is used?
- Hendecasyllabic meter (correct)
- Iambic pentameter
- Trochaic tetrameter
- Dactylic hexameter
Poem 7 shares thematic elements with Poem 8, primarily focusing on intense emotional suffering.
Poem 7 shares thematic elements with Poem 8, primarily focusing on intense emotional suffering.
False (B)
What is the significance of the silphium plant mentioned in the poem?
What is the significance of the silphium plant mentioned in the poem?
major export and emblem for Cyrene; used in cooking/medicine; aphrodisiac
The poem uses a literary device where a noun-forming suffix gives a word an elevated, intellectual tone; specifically, the suffix -tio is used in the word ______.
The poem uses a literary device where a noun-forming suffix gives a word an elevated, intellectual tone; specifically, the suffix -tio is used in the word ______.
Match the places with their description/ significance in the poem:
Match the places with their description/ significance in the poem:
What is the best description of the tone of poem 7?
What is the best description of the tone of poem 7?
The poem is written in dactylic hexameter, the standard meter for Catullus's love poems.
The poem is written in dactylic hexameter, the standard meter for Catullus's love poems.
What is Catullus asking Lesbia at the beginning of the poem?
What is Catullus asking Lesbia at the beginning of the poem?
The adjective 'aestuosi' is a transferred epithet, grammatically agreeing with ______.
The adjective 'aestuosi' is a transferred epithet, grammatically agreeing with ______.
Match the Latin word with its English translation:
Match the Latin word with its English translation:
Catullus speaks of himself in the third person in the last line. Why?
Catullus speaks of himself in the third person in the last line. Why?
The reference to the oracle of Zeus Ammon is purely religious and has no economic significance.
The reference to the oracle of Zeus Ammon is purely religious and has no economic significance.
To what does Catullus compare the number of kisses he wants from Lesbia?
To what does Catullus compare the number of kisses he wants from Lesbia?
The literary device where one word is used to modify or qualify two or more words instead of just one is called ______.
The literary device where one word is used to modify or qualify two or more words instead of just one is called ______.
Match the words to their meaning:
Match the words to their meaning:
The phrase "mala fascinare lingua" refers to:
The phrase "mala fascinare lingua" refers to:
The speaker demonstrates intellectual control throughout the poem, never questioning his sanity or desires.
The speaker demonstrates intellectual control throughout the poem, never questioning his sanity or desires.
What is Cyrene known for?
What is Cyrene known for?
"Quam magnus numerus Libyssae harenae lasarpiciferis iacet ______."
"Quam magnus numerus Libyssae harenae lasarpiciferis iacet ______."
Match the following figures with their significance:
Match the following figures with their significance:
Which of the following best describes the effect created by the exotic place references?
Which of the following best describes the effect created by the exotic place references?
Cyrene was in modern day Greece.
Cyrene was in modern day Greece.
What contrasts are emphasized in the notes of the poem?
What contrasts are emphasized in the notes of the poem?
Catullus coins the word ______ as well as the learned sounding lasarpicifer.
Catullus coins the word ______ as well as the learned sounding lasarpicifer.
Match each Latin phrase with its closest English translation as used in the context of the poem
Match each Latin phrase with its closest English translation as used in the context of the poem
Flashcards
Quaeris quot mihi basiationes?
Quaeris quot mihi basiationes?
How many kisses are enough for Catullus from Lesbia?
satis superque
satis superque
How many kisses are enough? More than Libyan sand and voyeuristic stars.
lāsarpīciferīs
lāsarpīciferīs
The silphium plant was the major export and emblem for ancient Cyrene. It was valued as an aphrodisiac.
oraclum Iovis inter aestuosi
oraclum Iovis inter aestuosi
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Battus
Battus
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veteris sacrum sepulcrum
veteris sacrum sepulcrum
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furtivos hominum vident amores
furtivos hominum vident amores
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Vesano
Vesano
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Catullo
Catullo
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cūriōsus
cūriōsus
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fascināre
fascināre
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lingua
lingua
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Study Notes
- Reflects a time of great happiness in the relationship between Lesbia and Catullus.
- Its tone and theme are closely related to Poem 5.
- Exotic place references belong to a poetic typology from Alexandrian poets.
- The poem has an air of mystique and intrigue.
- Written in hendecasyllabic meter.
Poem Text
- "Quaeris, quot mihi basiationes / tuae, Lesbia, sint satis superque. / quam magnus numerus Libyssae harenae / lasarpiciferis iacet Cyrenis / oraclum Iovis inter aestuosi / et Batti veteris sacrum sepulcrum; / aut quam sidera multa, cum tacet nox, / furtivos hominum vident amores: / tam te basia multa basiare / vesano satis et super Catullo est, / quae nec pernumerare curiosi / possint nec mala fascinare lingua."
Vocabulary and Notes
- Quaeris means "you ask" and the poem has the form of a question and answer.
- Quot means "how many, as many as".
- Basiatio means "kissing or kiss".
- The abstract noun-forming suffix -tio gives basiations an elevated, intellectual tone, coined by Catullus.
- Satis means "enough, sufficiently".
- Super is an adverb and means "above, beyond, more than enough".
- The structure "quam...quam...tam" means "as...as...so".
- Numerus means "number" and "poetic meter".
- Libyssa refers to Libya of north Africa.
- Harena means "sand, beach, desert, arena."
- Lasarpicifer refers to silphium-bearing.
- Lasarpiciferis refers to the silphium plant, the major export and emblem for Cyrene, used in cooking, medicine, and valued as an aphrodisiac.
- Iaceo means "lie, be in ruins."
- Cērēnae refers to Cyrene, town of northwest Libya, the short y is noted.
- Oraclum means oracle and Syncope refers to the oracle of Zeus Ammon (Jupiter) in Cyrene's territory.
- Zeus Ammon and silphium appear on coins from Cyrene.
- Aestuōsus means "very hot, agitated".
- Aestuosi is a Transferred Epithet, grammatically agrees with Jupiter, refers to the oracle's location in the very hot desert.
- Battus refers to Battus, the legendary founder of Cyrene.
- Vetus means "old, ancient." Sacer means "sacred, holy, detestable".
- Sepulcrum means "tomb, grave".
- Sidus means "star; sky".
- Taceo means "be silent".
- Furtivus means "stolen, secret."
- Amor means "love, sexual passion, object of one's love, love affair, act of sex; love PERSONIFIED as the god of love".
- Te basia...basiare structure is accusative subject with infinitive; bāsia, internal or cognate accusative with bāsiāre.
- Vesanus means "acting without reason, mad".
- Vesano is a contrast between the "intellectual" exchange about numbers of kisses, and the speaker's self-characterization as "without sanity."
- Catullo: Catullus several times speaks about himself in the third person.
- Quae...possint (11–12): subjunctive in relative clause of purpose; antecedent of the relative pronoun is bāsia.
- Pernumero is defined as "count up".
- Curiosus means "careful, diligent, curious, interfering".
- Mala...lingua is nominative.
- Nec...lingua (11–12): recalls anxiety about gossip of old men and about envy in Poem 5.
- Fascino means "cast a spell on, bewitch."
- Lingua means "tongue, language."
Catullus 7 Analysis
- While the kissing connects this poem with Poem 5, its learned language and form of question produce a more cerebral effect.
- The cerebral response contains "hot" sand and voyeuristic stars.
- The intellectual control of the speaker is questioned by his depiction of himself as "crazy".
- The comfort is threatened by the feared intrusion of others denying pleasure.
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